Gender selection in Northern Cyprus raises questions | DW News

Key Concepts

• Sex Selection: The practice of choosing the sex of a child before conception or implantation.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A process of fertilization where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body, in vitro.
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD): A genetic test used on embryos before implantation during IVF to screen for genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities.
• Northern Cyprus: A de facto state in the northern part of the island of Cyprus, occupied by Turkey since 1974 and not recognized under international law.
• EU Law: Laws and regulations of the European Union.
• Designer Babies: A term used to describe babies whose genetic makeup has been intentionally selected or altered, often for non-medical reasons.

Sex Selection as a Medical Tourism Destination: Northern Cyprus

The video discusses Northern Cyprus as a popular destination for couples seeking to select the sex of their child, a practice prohibited or considered taboo in many other countries, including Germany. This practice is facilitated by numerous fertility clinics in the region.

Motivations for Sex Selection

• Personal Preference: The transcript highlights a German woman's desire for a daughter, stating, "I can imagine not a deeper relationship than with my sons, just a different relationship." This illustrates a desire for a specific familial dynamic.
• Family Balancing: The desire to have children of both sexes is a significant driver.

The Procedure and Ethical Controversies

• Methodology: The primary method employed is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) followed by Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). Embryos are genetically tested, and those of the unwanted sex are discarded before implantation.
• Ethical Concerns:
  • Discarding Embryos: The practice of discarding embryos based on sex is ethically controversial.
  • "Designer Babies": Critics fear that sex selection is a slippery slope towards selecting other traits, leading to "designer babies." The video mentions clinics in the US already offering selection for eye color.
  • Societal Imbalance: Concerns exist about potential societal imbalances if sex selection becomes widespread, referencing the situations in China and India.

Legal and Regulatory Landscape

• European Union (EU): In the EU, sex selection is generally only permitted if serious hereditary diseases are suspected.
• Northern Cyprus: As Northern Cyprus is not recognized under international law and is occupied by Turkey, EU law does not apply. This allows for the widespread offering of sex selection services.
• Industry Discrepancies:
  • An industry representative initially disputes that the business relies primarily on sex selection, claiming it's part of general genetic testing and that "Pure sex selection treatments are not performed in the Turkish parts of Cyprus."
  • However, a hidden camera investigation at an in vitro clinic reveals the ease of ordering a baby of a desired sex, with a price of 6,000 for PGD.
  • The representative's subsequent private phone call to an employee to "Delete everything related to sex selection on our website immediately" suggests an attempt to conceal the extent of these services.

The Business of Sex Selection

• Economic Impact: The industry is worth millions for Northern Cyprus, with around 30 clinics offering the service.
• Cost: Treatments are significantly cheaper than in the US.
• Marketing: The transcript notes suspicious advertising with "bargain prices" and a "money back guarantee" as red flags.

Testimonials and Perspectives

• German Woman's Experience: The German woman found the procedure in Northern Cyprus unsuccessful and suspicious, citing the money-back guarantee and lack of English-speaking doctors, requiring interpreters. She later tried in the US.
• Natalie Vida (Consultant): Vida, a Swiss consultant for fertility clinics, processes over a thousand inquiries. She believes the ethical debate is "overblown" and that since genetic embryo testing is permitted in some European countries for medical reasons, sex determination is merely "additional information." She argues that fear of misuse, like in China or India, leads to non-disclosure rather than prohibition.
• Turkish Doctors' Perspective: Some Turkish doctors and clinics in Cyprus do not relate to the ethical concerns from abroad. They argue that while sex selection for a first child might be questionable, it should be allowed for subsequent children. They also point to "surplus embryos from artificial insemination which are discarded anyway."
• Advocacy for Domestic Access: A happy mother of a desired girl expresses a wish for women to not have to travel abroad, suggesting that if "an external assessor certifies that there is truly an urgent need for a woman or a man, it should be possible to implement that here as well."

Data and Statistics

• Unofficial Figures: Unofficially, it is estimated that one in two of the total 10,000 artificial inseminations performed in Northern Cyprus are for sex selection.

Conclusion

The video concludes that the "dubious trend of selecting baby's sex continues" in Northern Cyprus, highlighting the ongoing ethical debate and the complex interplay of personal desires, medical technology, and regulatory loopholes. The question of "Where should the lines be drawn?" remains open.